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September 2015 in Turkish archaeology

Antiochia ad Cragum

Turkish Archaeological News collects the most important, interesting and inspiring news from Turkish excavation sites. Here's the review for September 2015. Have we missed anything? Let us know by using Contact tab!

Once a hub for pirate activity, the ancient city of Antiocheia Ad Cragnum in Antalya’s Gazipaşa district is now undergoing renewed excavations that is shedding new light on the history of the area. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Excavations at the ancient Roman military outpost of Zerzevan Castle in the Çınar district of Turkey’s southeastern province of Diyarbakır have uncovered a chapel belonging to the very first Romans who converted to Christianity. Source: BGNNews

Stone beads that have been discovered during excavations supervised by Assistant Professor Cevdet Merih Erek of Gazi University in Direkli Cave in Kahramanmaraş will shed light on the migration routes and movements of ancient Anatolian people. Source: Daily Sabah

The Kiriaty Foundation prepared a master plan for the restoration of nine synagogues in İzmir's Kemeraltı area and plans to convert these historical buildings into a Jewish Culture Museum to contribute to Turkey's religious tourism. Source: Daily Sabah

Archeologists working in Turkey’s eastern province of Van have uncovered 2,800-year-old pithos, or large ceramic storage containers, that once contained grain, oil and wine in the ruins of Çavuştepe Castle built by Urartu King Sarduri II. Source: BGNNews

Foreign and domestic tourists are continuing to flock to the famed “Underground City” claimed to be around 3,000 years old in the southeastern province of Bayburt. The ancient figures on the walls, in particular, draw great attention from visitors. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

An archaeological team excavating the ancient site of Alacahöyük, one of the most significant centers of the ancient Hittite civilization, cooked pastries belonging to Hittite cuisine that dates back 4,000 years. The foods found on Hittite tablets were cooked without modern technology or equipment. Source: Daily Sabah

Excavations that have been continuing in Alacahöyük, one of the centers of Hittite civilization and considered Turkey’s first “national excavation field,” have unearthed nearly 3,700-year-old hair ties and jewelry made of animal horns. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

An archological team excavating a tumulus of the Van Castle revealed new information about the social life and architecture of the region from 7,000 years ago. The team members also focus on findings belong to ancient Urartian civilizations and the Ottomans. Source: Daily Sabah

The first provincial assembly September meeting in the western province of Aydın was held in the ancient site of Nysa in the historical Caria region, where assemblies of elders gathered 1,800 years ago. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Remains from the Ottoman, Seljuk, Roman, Byzantine and Hellenistic civilizations have been unearthed from 11 meters underground during three years of excavations in the Central Anatolian province of Kırşehir’s Kalehöyük mound. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Findings obtained during the Myra archaeological excavations carried out by Mediterranean University revealed Lycian women hairstyles 2,400 years ago were the same as today. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

An archaeological team examining archaeological findings discovered ancient hairstyles. Reliefs found on rock tombs reveal the extravagant braided hairstyles of women living 2,400 years ago, which by today's standards might be considered strange. Professor Nevzat Çelik of Akdeniz University Archaeology Department said it is possible to understand the lifestyle of people living during this time by examining ancient buildings and artifacts found in Lycian tombs. Source: Daily Sabah

Excavations have revealed Byzantine-era structures on Giresun Island, located 1.2 kilometers off Turkey's Black Sea coast. While a chapel, jars, coins and many other artifacts have been unearthed, archaeologists hope to find Roman ruins in lower layers. Source: Daily Sabah

Continuing excavations in the Pisidia Antiocheia ancient city in the southern province of Isparta’s Yalvaç district have unearthed a 1,800-year-old relief that will shed light on daily life in the city. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

The remains of a 5,000-year-old adobe basament of a possible “throne” have been unearthed during excavations in Turkey, revealing the origins of the secularization of power and one of the first evidence of the birth of the state system. Source: Discovery News

A new exhibition at the Koç University’s Research Center for Anatolian Civilizations aims to highlight the international impact of renowned British archaeologist John Garstang on the study of archaeology in Turkey and the Near East. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

What was behind the legendary story of King Midas and his golden touch? That is the question that will be answered—not with chests full of gold, but with a spectacular array of specially-loaned ancient artifacts from the Republic of Turkey, keys to telling the true story of a very real, very powerful ruler of the Phrygian kingdom in what is now central Turkey. The Golden Age of King Midas, an exclusive, world premiere exhibition developed by the Penn Museum, 3260 South Street in Philadelphia, in partnership with the Republic of Turkey, runs February 13 through November 27, 2016. Source: Popular Archaeology

Three massive, mysterious amphoras have been unearthed during excavations in the Kaniş-Kültepe-Karum archaeological field in Kayseri. While still unsure as to their use, experts say it be difficult to produce the amphoras, even with today’s technology. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

The Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office has announced that it will return to Turkey a Roman-era marble sarcophagus depicting the 12 labors of Hercules that was seized by Swiss customs officials in 2010. Source: BGNNews

Historical artifacts in Turkey and abroad have survived thanks to the efforts of the General Directorate of Foundations. Nearly 4,000 structures have been restored in 13 years, says the general director. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

The 4.5-kilometer Roman-era King’s Road in Mersin is being cleaned for restoration work. When the work is done, the road is expected to be on the itinerary of international archaeology travel groups. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Recent restoration work at the historical amphitheater of Aspendos has sparked outrage among tourists and cultural associations, as white marble has been used on the ancient site’s stairs and seats rather than stones of the original texture and color. Source: Hürriyet Daily News

The University of Veterinary Medicine, together with the Austrian Archaeological Institute, recently opened the “BoneLab Ephesos” near the site. The new laboratory houses the largest scientific collection of bones and mollusc shells in Turkey. Source: Heritage Daily

A dog's skeleton dating back 3,000 years has been discovered under a house during excavations carried out in Tuşba, the capital city of the ancient kingdom of Urartu. The new discoveries unearthed offer insights into the reign of the Urartu as well as what daily life was like back then. Source: Daily Sabah

The excavations in Comana Pontica, which is an ancient city located in Gümenek, 7 kilometers from the central Black Sea city of Tokat, indicate that a wealthy Seljuk or Danishmend community once lived in the area. Source: Daily Sabah

White marble stones that were used in the renovation of the ancient amphitheater [actually it is a theatre - TAN comment] of Aspendos to great disdain due to their discordance with the original stones will ultimately blend in with their surroundings, according to the Culture and Tourism Ministry. Source: Hürriyet Daily News